In the Salaca River holiday home, nature meets an old log cabin and Scandinavian minimalism. Built in 1876 as a fisherman’s cottage, later used as a rest stop between Riga and Wolmar, the cottage was saved from demolition and relocated to the Salaca River Valley, one of Latvia’s most beautiful nature parks — a spectacle of dense forests, sandstone cliffs, untouched caves and dry meadows. Each individual wooden beam was numbered, transported to its new home and rebuilt on a foundation of 180 stones. As a great lover of architecture and design, house rescuer and owner Artūrs Martinsons commissioned Vipp’s creative team to redesign the listed building. Since then, Salaca River has been part of the Danish design brand’s portfolio, which preserves authentic places and architectural archetypes around the world with great sense and flair and makes them accessible as guest houses.
To give the two-storey, rather dark log cabin light and space, the small-scale structure was rethought, half of the low ceiling was removed and transformed into accommodation with a large, open-plan living area and airy volume. The log walls and historic ceiling create a historic atmosphere. This is punctuated by bright, white floorboards and huge panoramic windows that allow the view to flow seamlessly to the picturesque meandering Salaca. Combined with simple, straightforward furniture in neutral colours, vintage finds and various handicrafts made from natural materials.
The black, purist kitchen island blends in with the patina of the old wood and invites you to create your own personalised dishes from foraged mushrooms or home-caught fish. Right next to it is a small dining and seating area as well as a fireplace with sofa, armchair and a mirrored wall that also reflects the green of the landscape. The double bedroom under the open roof beams surprises with a freestanding bathtub and a view of the living area below. The clearly defined highlight: an x‑shaped window ensures both a precise incidence of light and privacy. A reminiscence of the owner of the house and his design studio xcelsior. On the ground floor there is a further bedroom with two single beds and the bathroom. The large sliding windows provide access to the surrounding wooden terrace, which connects seamlessly with nature. Whether for morning coffee, forest bathing, reading in the hammock or in the wood-fired whirlpool under the starry sky.
Find out more about Kasper Egelund, CEO of the Danish design brand VIPP.
What to do
Listening to the rustling of the leaves, kayaking and canoeing, salmon fishing, walking, hiking and cycling, mushroom picking, swimming in the river in summer, cross-country skiing in winter, bird and wildlife watching, a trip to Salacgriva harbour with a nearby beach for swimming and bathing
Why we like this house
A fairytale retreat full of authenticity and Scandinavian subtlety in close contact with nature.
This house is great for
Families, couples, those seeking inspirational peace and quiet
Details
| Region |
LV - Latvia, Vidzeme, Salacriva |
| Name | Vipp Salaca River |
| Scenery | Surrounded by old trees on the banks of the river Salaca in the national park of the same name |
| Number of guests | Max. 4 in 2 bedrooms |
| Completed | 1876, 2023 |
| Design | Artūrs Martinsons, Riga |
| Architecture | Old & new |
| Accomodation | Holiday home |
| Criteria | 1-4 (house/apartment), Family, Garden, Hiking, Lake/river, Skiing |
| Same Partners | Vipp Townhouse Lagrasse, Vipp Farmhouse, Vipp Cold Hawaii |
Availability calendar
The calendar shows the current availability of the accommodation. On days with white background the accommodation is still available. On days with dark gray background the accommodation is not available.
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